Washing machine drain box lint trap

ABSTRACT

A washing machine lint trap has a long screen filter for removing particulates from the wastewater discharge as it flows therethrough and a rigid support rim coupled to the top side of the long screen filter. The long screen filter has a top side presenting an opening for insertion of a discharge drain hose attached to a washing machine and side screen material through which the wastewater flows while tapping particulates contained within the wastewater. The rigid support rim engaging a top side of a drainpipe to hold the lint trap in place when in use. The rigid support rim provides a supporting force to the long screen filter to keep the lint trap in place against the discharge flow of the wastewater.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe.

BACKGROUND

Washing machines use a discharge drain hoses to expel its wastewater into a drainpipe that is connected to a sewer line in a home. Many homes no longer use a utility sink having a large tub, but rather utilize a simple drainpipe in a plumbing connection box. The plumbing connection box typically also includes connections for hot and cold water for the washing machine. Wastewater discharged from a washing machine typically contains particulates that is removed from clothing being washing. These particulates may also include material fibers that were part of the clothing being washed. These particulates flow through the discharge drain hose and into the drainpipe along with the wastewater. These particulates, over time, may build up and clog portions of the drainpipe and related parts of the house's sewer lines.

The present invention attempts to address the existing limitations in supporting a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture for providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture of for providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe. A washing machine lint trap has a long screen filter for removing particulates from the wastewater discharge as it flows therethrough and a rigid support rim coupled to the top side of the long screen filter. The long screen filter has a top side presenting an opening for insertion of a discharge drain hose attached to a washing machine and side screen material through which the wastewater flows while tapping particulates contained within the wastewater. The rigid support rim engaging a top side of a drainpipe to hold the lint trap in place when in use. The rigid support rim provides a supporting force to the long screen filter to keep the lint trap in place against the discharge flow of the wastewater.

The great utility of the invention is that an article of manufacture may providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe. The lint trap permits wastewater discharge to flow through a screen material to catch particulates while being held in place by a rigid support rim that prevents the lint trap from moving down into the drainpipe while providing an easy mechanism to remove and clean the lint trap.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates one potential embodiment a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose for insertion into a drainpipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose inserted into a drainpipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view and side view of an embodiment of a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general an article of manufacture for providing an article of manufacture of for providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a needle” includes reference to one or more of such needles and “etching” includes one or more of such steps. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “50-250 micrometers should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 50 micrometers and 250 micrometers, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 60, 70, and 80 micrometers, and sub-ranges such as from 50-100 micrometers, from 100-200, and from 100-250 micrometers, etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, percent, ratio, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about,” whether or not the term “about” is present. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in the testing measurements.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill. Further, unless otherwise stated, the term “about” shall expressly include “exactly,” consistent with the discussion above regarding ranges and numerical data.

The term “user” and “homeowner” refers to an entity, e.g. a human, that operates a washing machine according to the present invention in order to bring about a desired effect or outcome, particularly provide the user a lint trip to a washing machine discharge drain hose. In a particular case, the user is one that operates a washing machine in a home. For such a user, the terms “user” and “homeowner” may be used herein interchangeably.

In general, the present disclosure relates general an article of manufacture for providing a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe according to the present invention. To better understand the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates one potential embodiment a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose into a drainpipe according to the present invention. A washing machine 105 uses a discharge drain hose 110 to expel its wastewater into a drainpipe 104 that is connected to a sewer line in a home. Many homes no longer use a utility sink having a large tub, but rather utilize a simple drainpipe 104 in a plumbing connection box 103. The plumbing connection box 103 typically also includes connections for hot and cold water (not shown) for the washing machine 105.

Wastewater discharged from a washing machine 105 typically contains particulates that is removed from clothing being washing. These particulates may also include material fibers that were part of the clothing being washed. These particulates flow through the discharge drain hose 110 and into the drainpipe 104 along with the wastewater. These particulates, over time, may build up and clog portions of the drainpipe 104 and related parts of the house's sewer lines.

A lint trap 101 of the present invention may be placed into the drainpipe 104 between the discharge drain hose 110 and the drainpipe to provide a barrier between the washing machine and the sewer lines. The lint trap 101 is made of a screening material that permits the wastewater to flow through the link trap while impeding the particulates within this discharge. The lint trap 101 is easily removable both from the drainpipe 104 and the end of the discharge drain hose 110 to permit a homeowner to periodically clean and remove any particulates caught within the lint trap before being reinserted again before the next use of the washing machine. Use of the lint trap 101 significantly reduces if not eliminates a need to clear the drainpipe 104 of a blockage caused by a build-up of these particulates.

FIG. 2 illustrates a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose for insertion into a drainpipe according to the present invention. The lint trap 101 is shown above the drainpipe 104. Typically, the drainpipe 104 comprises a 2″ diameter pipe into which a 1′-1½″ discharge drain hose 110 is inserted. The lint trap 101 is made of two components: a long screen filter 201 and a rigid support rim 202 that extends outward from the long screen filter 201 a sufficient distance to completely cover the outer diameter of the drainpipe 104. This rigid support rim 202 provides physical support structure that prevents the lint trap 101 from washing down into the drainpipe 104 as may occur with the use of currently available lint traps.

FIG. 3 illustrates a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose inserted into a drainpipe according to the present invention. In this example embodiment, the discharge drain-hose 110 has been inserted into the long screen filter 201 of the lint trap 101 through the rigid support rim 202. Once together, the combination of the lint trap 101 and the discharge drain hose 110 is inserted into the drainpipe 104 until the entire long screen filter is within the drainpipe and the rigid support rim 202 has come into contact with the top of the drainpipe. the combination of the lint trap 101 and the discharge drain hose 110 may be removed from the drainpipe 104 to clean the inside of the long screen filter 201 of any particulates captured by prior use of the washing machine 105 while the lint trap was in place.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view and side view of an embodiment of a lint trap for a washing machine discharge hose according to the present invention. The top view 401 shows the top of the rigid support rim 202 with the inner portion of the long screen filter 201 shown therein. The side view 402 shows the lint trap 101 with the rigid support rim 202 coupled to the top of the long screen filter 201 to function as discussed above.

The long screen filter 201 typically possesses an inner diameter greater than 1½″ to accept standard sized discharge drain hoses 110. The long screen filter also typically possesses an outer diameter less than the 2″ drainpipe 104. Finally, the long screen filter is sufficiently long in length to permit the wastewater to flow freely out of the discharge drain hose 110 while catching ant particulates contained therein. In a preferred embodiment, the long screen filter as a mesh of ???, that is ??? in diameter and ??? in length. Do you have a size you would recommend as the size of the lint trap?

The rigid support rim 202 is a solid piece of material, typically plastic that is ???” thick. The rigid support rim 202 typically possesses an inner through-hole that matches the diameter of the long screen filter 201 and is large enough to accept the 1″-1½″ discharge drain hose 110 and an outer diameter greater than the drainpipe 104. The rigid support rim 202 provides a supporting force to the long screen filter 201 to keep it in place against the discharge flow of the wastewater.

The size, length, and screen material of the long screen filter 201 and the inner and outer diameter of the rigid support rim 202 may be varied to additional configurations to perform the functions of the lint trap 101 according to the limitations recited within the attached claims. The above description of these components are for example and descriptive purposes in which the present invention is to be limited only by the elements recited in the claims.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain embodiments of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from embodiments of the invention encompassed by the following claims.

In this specification including any claims, the term “each” may be used to refer to one or more specified characteristics of a plurality of previously recited elements or steps. When used with the open-ended term “comprising,” the recitation of the term “each” does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or steps. Thus, it will be understood that an apparatus may have additional, unrecited elements and a method may have additional, unrecited steps, where the additional, unrecited elements or steps do not have the one or more specified characteristics. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine lint trap for use in filtering wastewater discharge in a residential setting, the lint trap comprises: a long screen filter for removing particulates from the wastewater discharge as it flows therethrough, the long screen filter having a top side presenting an opening for insertion of a discharge drain hose attached to a washing machine and side screen material through which the wastewater flows while tapping particulates contained within the wastewater; and a rigid support rim coupled to the top side of the long screen filter, the rigid support rim engaging a top side of a drainpipe to hold the lint trap in place when in use; wherein the rigid support rim provides a supporting force to the long screen filter to keep the lint trap in place against the discharge flow of the wastewater.
 2. The washing machine lint trap according to claim 1, wherein the long screen filter accepts discharge drain hoses between 1 inch and 1½ inches in diameter.
 3. The washing machine lint trap according to claim 2, wherein the rigid support rim has an inner diameter matching the opening within the top side of the filter and an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of a drainpipe.
 4. The washing machine lint trap according to claim 3, wherein the rigid support rim is constructed of plastic and is at least 1 inch thick.
 5. The washing machine lint trap according to claim 2, wherein the long screen filter catches particulates larger than 1 inch. 